To very little surprise, the CW has cancelled one of its few remaining sitcoms, The Game. Is this the end for the series or could it still return?
Created by Mara Brock Akil, The Game began as a spin-off of Akil’s long-running comedy, Girlfriends. The series centers around a first year medical student (Tia Mowry) who chooses to follow her pro-football boyfriend (Pooch Hall) to San Diego. Others in the cast include Brittany Daniel, Coby Bell, Hosea Chanchez and Wendy Raquel Robinson.
The first sitcom to debut on the CW network, The Game averaged 2.3 million viewers in season one. For season two, the ratings dropped to 2.07 million and a .96 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This season, it’s fallen to an average of 1.68 million viewers and a tiny 0.7 rating in the demo, in part because it was given a Friday night timeslot.
The CW is essentially getting out of the sitcom business and has cancelled The Game after 64 episodes. There had been talks about changing the show’s format to an hour-long dramady, to make it more compatible with the network’s other programming. That was seen as a long-shot at best and actually would have created its own set of challenges for syndication.
Though The Game only has 64 episodes, BET recently signed a syndication deal to air the first two seasons and season three will be added this Fall. To increase the show’s number of episodes, there have been discussions between the cable channel and CBS (the show’s studio) about co-funding original episodes. The deal would likely come with some cost-cutting measures.
There’s been no further word on the potential deal with BET so, as of right now, “The Wedding Episode” is the series’ last.
If The Game isn’t rescued from cancellation, are you satisfied with the way the sitcom ended — with Melanie and Derwin finally getting married?
Image courtesy CW.
KW you said it best…this show was set up for failure when it was moved to Friday nights. I am sure that most of their viewers are not even home on Friday nights like that. Most people hit up happy hours or go out to eat with their families during that time. Even if you DVR it..unless you watch it within a certain time frame from recording it ..it will not count towards their ratings. I really do not give a hoot if BET picks up but somebody needs to…shoot the weather channel, animal channel, TLC, Lifetime etc…SOMEBODY please I… Read more »
The game is one of the most shows out here. The way the show ended leaves the viewers wanting for more therefore if a new season is created it’s obvious the ratings will be great! I would like to know if Mel &Derwin’s marriage will last. I hope it does but now that the baby is born will Mel get the attention she feels she deserves? I think it will be a HUGE mistake if you cancel this show.
The CW is full of crap. I gurantee thier ratings on the station alone drop. They seem to cancel all the good shows with black people in them and have few shows worth watching left. I loved the Game, and not just because of the black people because I loved Kelly Pitts(Brittani), her character was off the chain. The show was very realistic and had CW not changed the time they were showing The Game, the ratings wouldn’t have dropped. Some people work during the new hours, but consider it a lost to CW, hopefully someone else picks up on… Read more »
I love the Game! And i agree with the Boycott. This boycott shows what WE want to watch sooo hell yea boycott im am going to tell my friends about the boycott!
I am so ready for a new season of the Game, I love this show because they deal with real life happs., I feel that they pretty much left us wanting more, the last episode with Derwin and Mel was o.k. but I am left feeling like o.k. now what. Is the baby Derwins etc.!!!!!!!
It’s strange how the CW wouldn’t pick up The Game but, they did pick up all these white shows 90210 and melrose place but you see they aren’t doing well at all at least people did watch the Game.
I am disappointed I really loved the game I am so damn tired of seeing reruns ,they always find a way to cancel good shows.I would love to see what happened with Melanie,Derwin,and the baby.Also Kelly,Tasha,Rick Fox and etc.I always looked forward to seeing the game on friday and if I forgot it was coming I already had it set to record.This really pisses me the f*** off.What yall need to do is take Wendy Willams off air alot of people may say I’m crazy but that woman is annoying even my six year old godsister says she works her… Read more »
Like most of the faithful fans of this show, I would love to see “The Game” return. The characters are real, raw, and funny and draw you into the show like no other I have yet to see. It’s ashame that there are not enough black shows that can stay on air. Please bring this show back!
How dare BET cancel the show. I really got into it. I made sure tht the episodes got taped. I still look at the reruns. Now I know that they r not going to leave the fans hangin after the long awaited marriage of Melanie and Derwin. What is going to happen to Kelly Pitts. she deserves a comeback, and lets not forget about Rick and Tasha. Come on BET wake up. Why would you want to cancel a show like this.
BET didn’t cancel it CW did… BET is trying to get the new episodes -__- I do agree that the game is WONDERFUL. I LOVE that show. They left SOO many cliffhangers and I do not appreciate that at all. The Baby… Mel and Darwin’s wedding… Im nore concerned about Rik and Tasha… none the less .. ahh Kelly… What Tasha did was #^%&%&^ UP! But Guurrrll !I wanna see that
This was a real good show. Let’s hope for another season….I want to see what happens with Derwin, Melanie and the baby.
i luv that show and they left me hanging. they always cancel the good shows.
All i have to say is that someone better pick up the damn show because i love that show and i’m tired of seeing repeats on bet. I hope to see new episodes very soon………..
no im not happy with the way the show ended i want to see more new episodes i want to see what happends with derwin and melanie. i also want to see what happens to jason and kelly and why rick fox came back at the very end.
It is becoming painfully obvious that the new owners of BET could care less what WE want to see. I have programmed my FIOS TV to record any NEW episodes of the game. Until I see that new episodes have begun…my family and I are committed to boycott BET. We will not watch BET programs until they show some initiative and interest in airing what WE want to watch. I believe if more people do this …WE will finally be able to get there attention and they will start heeding our request for better programs like The Game. Join us……..Boycott… Read more »
I love The Game. It is a really good show with a great cast. I hope they choose to bring it back. I will say that I had a hard time figuring out when it was on, so this time please broadcast the shows so I can watch them.
the game is great! i really hope BET can get it, or someone i dont care who. BET could use a show like this, girlfriends was a great show too, im dying i have all the episodes on tivo i need new ones!